User interface for personal telecommunication devices

Abstract

An ergonomic personal telecommunication device that is of optimum size for user operation and manipulation allowing the user to operate the device as a telephony device or an electronic messaging device with one finger by using virtual function keys and buttons appearing at a function display.

I claim: 
     
       1. An ergonomic user interface system for a personal telecommunication device comprising: a first base member having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end and a first hinged end opposite the first end;   a second base member having an inner surface, an outer surface, a second end and a second hinged end opposite the second end;   a first display mounted on the inner surface of the first base member for displaying information;   a second display mounted on the inner surface of the second base member for displaying information;   a microphone supported by one of the first and second base members;   a speaker supported by one of the first and second base members;   a hinge connecting the first hinged end to the second hinged ends; and   a manipulatable member supported by one of the first and second base members and functionally connected to at least one of the displays to alter an appearance of displayed information on at least one of the first and second displays in response to a manipulation of the manipulatable member thereby allowing the user to completely operate the telecommunication device.   
     
     
       2. The user interface of claim 1 wherein the speaker, the first display, the second display, the microphone and the manipulatable member are arranged linearly along a longitudinal axis extending between the ends of the base member. 
     
     
       3. The user interface of claim 1 wherein the first display is a function display that displays data menus and virtual function keys and the second display is a formulated information display that displays information formulated using the function display. 
     
     
       4. The user interface of claim 1 wherein the first display is an LCD display. 
     
     
       5. The user interface of claim 1 wherein the second display is an LCD display. 
     
     
       6. The user interface of claim 1 wherein the manipulatable member is a depressable trackball. 
     
     
       7. The user interface of claim 1 wherein the manipulatable member maneuvers an indicator appearing on at least one of the displays. 
     
     
       8. The user interface of claim 3 wherein the data menu is a virtual telephone keypad and the manipulatable member selects data from the virtual telephone keypad to formulate a telephone number. 
     
     
       9. The user interface of claim 3 wherein the data menu is a virtual keyboard having a plurality of virtual keys where each virtual key represents at least one symbol and the manipulatable member selects data from the virtual keyboard to display information. 
     
     
       10. The user interface of claim 9 wherein the manipulatable member selectively activates the virtual function keys to command the telecommunication device to transmit the displayed information. 
     
     
       11. The user interface of claim 9 comprising an incoming message indicator means for indicating the presence of an incoming message. 
     
     
       12. The user interface of claim 7 comprising an incoming telephone call indicator means for indicating the presence of an incoming telephone call. 
     
     
       13. The user interface of claim 8 wherein the manipulatable member selectively activates the virtual function keys to cause the telephone number to be displayed on the formulated information display and to initiate operation of the telecommunication device as a telephony device using the displayed telephone number. 
     
     
       14. An ergonomic user interface system for a personal telecommunication device affixed to a user, the user interface system comprising: a base member having an inner surface, an outer surface and two opposite ends;   attachment means for attaching the device to the user, the attachment means being connected to the opposite ends of the base member;   a speaker mounted on the attachment means;   a microphone mounted on the attachment means;   a first display mounted on the inner surface of the base member for displaying information;   a door hingedly connected to the base member, the door having a front surface and a back surface;   a second display mounted on the front surface of the door for displaying information;   a fastener that detachably secures the door to the base member when the door is in a closed positions; and   a manipulatable member supported by the base member and functionally connected to at least one of the first and second displays to alter an appearance of displayed information on at least one of the first and second displays in response to a manipulation of the manipulatable member thereby allowing the user to completely operate the personal telecommunication device.   
     
     
       15. The user interface of claim 14 where the manipulatable member is a depressable trackball. 
     
     
       16. The user interface of claim 14 wherein data menus and virtual function keys are displayed on one of the first and second displays. 
     
     
       17. The user interface of claim 15 wherein the depressable trackball maneuvers an indicator appearing on one of the first and second displays. 
     
     
       18. The user interface of claim 16 wherein the data menu is a virtual keyboard having a plurality of virtual keys where each virtual key represents at least one symbol and the manipulatable member selects data from the virtual keyboard to display information. 
     
     
       19. The user interface of claim 18 wherein the manipulatable member selectively activates the virtual function keys to command the telecommunication device to transmit the displayed information. 
     
     
       20. The user interface of claim 19 comprising an incoming message indicator means for indicating the presence of an incoming message. 
     
     
       21. The user interface of claim 16 where the manipulatable member selects data from the data menus to formulate information one of the first and second displays. 
     
     
       22. The user interface of claim 21 wherein the manipulatable member selectively activates the function keys to cause the information displayed on one of the first and second displays to be displayed on the other of the first and second displays. 
     
     
       23. The user interface of claim 16 wherein the data menu is a virtual telephone keypad and the manipulatable member selects data from the virtual keypad to formulate a telephone number on one of the first and second displays. 
     
     
       24. The user interface of claim 23 wherein the manipulatable member selectively activates the virtual function keys to cause the telephone number to be displayed on the formulated information display and to initiate operation of the telecommunication device as a telephony device using the displayed information. 
     
     
       25. The user interface of claim 24 comprising an incoming telephone call indicator means for indicating the presence of an incoming telephone call.